Baseball

Hartsville, SC- Coker College Head Baseball Coach, Dave Schmotzer, announced the signing of four junior college players to National Letters of Intent to play baseball for the Cobras during the 2007-2008 season. Two of the players join the Cobras are from McCookCommunity College, while one comes from HerkimerCommunity College and the final one is from LakelandCommunity College.

Grant Seymour, a right-handed pitcher, is a native Westminster, Colorado, where he was a two-time letterman for the StandleyLakeHigh School baseball team. Upon graduating from high school, Seymour attended McCookCommunity College in McCook, Nebraska, were he was a two year starter, posting a 4.65 ERA in 57 innings of work, allowing less than one hit per inning during his senior season. According to Grant, “I’m looking forward to completing my academic and athletic career at Coker.”

Brian “B.K.” Harfst, a short stop, is a native of Arvada, Colorado, where he attended RalstonValleyHigh School before attending McCookCommunity College. While at RalstonValley, Harfst earned All-Conference honors in baseball and football and was named the 2005 Ralston Valley High School Athlete of the Year. Harfst, along with Seymour, become the second and third baseball players from McCookCommunity College on the Cobras roster, joining senior catcher Julio Gomez/Santa Fe, NM.

John Florance is an outfielder hailing from Chenango Forks, New York, where he attended ChenangoHigh School, before attending HerkimerCommunity College. In high school Florance was a four-time baseball letter winner and two-time basketball and football letter winner. He was named baseball Team MVP for his junior and senior years and was a two-time All-STAC (Southern Tier Athletic Conference) selection, along with being a three-time All-Division selection. While at Herkimer he led his team to a record of 35-8, while winning the Region 3 Championship and advanced to the national semi-finals of the NJCAA World Series. Last season Florance had a .406 batting average, with three home runs, six doubles, a triple, 15 RBIs and 13 stolen bases.

Tom Oschip is a pitcher from Mentor, Ohio, where he attended MentorHigh School and upon graduating attended LakelandCommunity College. In high school, Oschip led Mentor to the state final four, was named the Lake Eire League MVP and was an All-Ohio Honorable Mention selection. Oschip posted a 6-1 record with a 1.3 ERA during his senior season.

The Coker Cobras baseball team finished the 2007 season with a record of 20-31, placing 9th in the Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference (CVAC). Coach Schmozter is hopeful for a return to the top of the conference in the 2008 season.